Among other compliance measures required for any business undertaking international trade, updating the address in your Importer Exporter Code (IEC) is mandatory. According to the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), any alteration to business details, such as the registered address, must be updated in the IEC immediately. An incorrect or outdated address may delay shipments, introduce compliance discrepancies, or even cause the IEC to be interrupted. This blog provides a step-by-step methodology for updating an address in IEC online via the DGFT portal.
Understanding IEC and Address Update Requirement
The Importer Exporter Code is a 10-digit special identification number assigned by DGFT to persons, firms or LLPs who are engaged in exportation or importation. As IEC is associated with a number of statutory authorities, among them, Customs, DGFT, and Banks, the business address should be updated officially.
IEC renewal guarantees ease of customs clearance, correct documentation, and a continuous trade process.
When the business changes its office location, opens a new branch, restructures the organisation, or changes its address in GST records, it usually needs to update its IEC address.
Documents Required for Changing Address in IEC
There is little documentation involved in updating the IEC address. In order to proceed with the processing without any problems, you should prepare the following documents:
- Evidence of new residence, like an electricity bill, a rent contract, a property tax receipt or a sale deed.
- Active PAN information of the business.
- New branch or office bank details.
- OTP authentication of the proprietor, partners, or directors using Aadhaar.
- Aadhaar authentication/digital signature based on the type of entity.
With such documents, there is a guarantee that the update request will be passed without any postponements.
Changing Address in the IEC Online using DGFT Portal
ICU has transformed the IEC update process to a fully online one. The entire change process can be completed in a few minutes if the paperwork and logins are prepared.
The basic step-by-step procedure is listed below.
Step 1: Visit the DGFT Portal
- Open the official DGFT portal and select the IEC services option.
- Click on the IEC Profile management area to continue.
Step 2: Sign in to Your IEC Account
- Enter your email ID and password, which you registered.
- In case you have forgotten your login password, use the ” reset password option to log in again.
- When you are logged in, make sure that IEC is already connected to your DGFT profile.
Step 3: Select the Modify IEC Alternative
- In the IEC dashboard, the option to update IEC details is selected.
- The system will provide access to different sections, including business, address, branch, and bank details.
Step 4: Update Address Details
- Find the section of the address and put in the new business address as it is, as far as your evidence goes.
- Make sure the address is identical to your GST registration records, or else there may be an inconsistency.
- Post the required address proof in the required format.
Step 5: Verify and Save Changes
- Once you have entered the new address, check the rest of the other sections.
- Make sure that there are correct contact details, bank details and branch details.
- After confirming that, press on save and next.
Step 6: Preview and Sign the Form
- The portal produces the preview of the new IEC form.
- Read through the preview and submit.
- Submit with the help of Aadhaar OTP e-sign as a proprietor or DSC as a company or LLP.
Step 7: Make IEC Update Application
- Sign the form and hand in the application.
- You will get a feedback message on the portal, and a confirmation will be forwarded to your registered email.
- IC modification, such as an address change, is free of government charge. The updates on IEC are absolutely free.
Verification and Approval of Post-Submission
- After applying, DGFT reviews the request through a brief process, typically conducted after the request has been submitted.
- Check your email for approval or any other questions DGFT may have.
- On approval, download the revised IEC certificate from the DGFT portal.
- This revised IEC may now be applied to all future import and export operations.
Common Issues Faced during updating the address in IEC
In most instances, users have small technical or documentation difficulties when upgrading IEC. The various problems encountered include:
- Disagreement between the address proof uploaded and the GST address.
- Poor formatting or clarity of address proof documents.
- Aadhaar OTP authentication failure.
- DSC that is not identified in companies or LLPs.
- Incorrect technical malfunctions on the DGFT portal during rush hours.
The problems can be mitigated by making sure that the DGFT portal is properly documented and that it is browsed using current browsers.
Importance of updating IEC Address
To stay in compliance and conduct business in an easy manner, it is necessary to keep the IEC address updated. It ensures:
- Proper clearance forms for customs clearance.
- Correct connectivity of Customs and DGFT, as well as Bank records.
- Escaping punishment or being suspended because of outdated information.
- Credibility among the professionals of international trade.
Any failure to update IEC on time may lead to unnecessary complications in the process of exportation and importation.
Conclusion
The IEC can easily change the address through the DGFT online portal. Using correct details, login credentials and proper documents, the update could be made easily.
It is always good to keep your IEC up to date to ensure compliance, avoid delays in trade transactions, and retain your business’s credibility in the international market.
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